Tanya Showers pace reliant in Dixie Belle Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Those looking to play Tanya Showers in the $150,000 Dixie Belle on Saturday at Oaklawn Park might want to be more concerned with the pace forecast for the race than the weather forecast.

Tanya Showers should see clear skies, but even if the anticipated sunshine turns to rain on what has been a wet winter, that would be fine for the 3-year-old filly named for the weather forecaster on the television series “The Ranch.” Tanya Showers has been effective on both fast and wet tracks.

“She does travel on either surface,” trainer Chris Hartman said.

Pace is the greater concern Saturday. Sharp Tune is a candidate to steal away in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, although Xtreme Diva, who is the lone stakes winner in the field, and Pinotslilgirl, who has speed and the rail, could pepper the pace for Tanya Showers.

“Obviously, we’re going to be coming from the back of the bus,” Hartman said. “She’s got her style.”

Tanya Showers closed from last to win a maiden special weight Dec. 31 at Oaklawn, then returned one start later and closed from last again to finish a close second in the track’s $150,000 Mockingbird on Jan. 13.

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“We’re hoping and thinking we’re in a good spot,” Hartman said. “She’s run with some fairly decent fillies and she is getting better. We’ll see.”

Hartman said co-owner Larry Romero named Tanya Showers, who is a daughter of Runhappy and a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Shore Runner. Tanya Showers also races for Joey Keith Davis and Mach 1 Racing.

“Eventually, we’re going to have to try this filly around two turns,” Hartman said. “Inside our group, we’re trying to figure out if she’s a sprinter or a router. I don’t know how far she actually wants to go. She’s either a late-closing sprinter or she’s a route horse. We’re going to try to stretch her out eventually, but on Saturday we’re going to try and sprint.”

Chris Landeros has the mount from post 7.

Ghalia Princess, a sharp debut winner who is cross-entered in the Ruthless at Aqueduct, will run in New York, trainer Brad Cox said. The seven-furlong distance there could be a better fit for Ghalia Princess.

“We’ve always thought she’s a filly that would stretch out from what we’ve seen from her, and from her pedigree,” Cox said. “It’s probably best for her to get a little more ground.”

Trainer Mac Robertson trains both Xtreme Diva, who is coming off an allowance win at Oaklawn, and Xtreme Smoke Show, who was fifth last out in the Mockingbird in what was her first start since October.

Xtreme Smoke Show was a first-level allowance winner last fall at Keeneland. The daughter of Frosted is from the Grade 3-winning mare Imposing Grace. Xtreme Smoke Show will start from post 2 under Francisco Arrieta.

Xtreme Diva won the Northern Lights Debutante against Minnesota-breds last September at Canterbury. For her allowance win over open company at Oaklawn, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84, which is the best last-race number in the Dixie Belle.

Sharp Tune, who was third in the Mockingbird, breaks from post 3 under Keith Asmussen.

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